Song of Solomon 5

8. She turns from the unsympathizing watchmen to humbler persons, not yet themselves knowing Him, but in the way towards it. Historically, His secret friends in the night of His withdrawal ( Luke 23:27 Luke 23:28 ). Inquirers may find ("if ye find") Jesus Christ before she who has grieved His Spirit finds Him again.
tell--in prayer ( James 5:16 ).
sick of love--from an opposite cause ( Solomon 2:5 ) than through excess of delight at His presence; now excess of pain at His absence.

9. Her own beauty ( Ezekiel 16:14 ), and lovesickness for Him, elicit now their enquiry ( Matthew 5:16 ); heretofore "other lords besides Him had dominion over them"; thus they had seen "no beauty in Him" ( Isaiah 26:13 , 53:2 ).

10. ( 1 Peter 3:15 ).
white and ruddy--health and beauty. So David (equivalent to beloved), His forefather after the flesh, and type ( 1 Samuel 17:42 ). "The Lamb" is at once His nuptial and sacrificial name ( 1 Peter 1:19 , Revelation 19:7 ), characterized by white and red; white, His spotless manhood ( Revelation 1:14 ). The Hebrew for white is properly "illuminated by the sun," white as the light" (compare Matthew 17:2 ); red, in His blood-dyed garment as slain ( Isaiah 63:1-3 , Revelation 5:6 , 19:13 ). Angels are white, not red; the blood of martyrs does not enter heaven; His alone is seen there.
chiefest--literally, "a standard bearer"; that is, as conspicuous above all others, as a standard bearer is among hosts ( Psalms 45:7 , 89:6 , Isaiah 11:10 , 55:4 , Hebrews 2:10 ; compare 2 Samuel 18:3 Job 33:23 Philippians 2:9-11 Revelation 1:5 ). The chief of sinners needs the "chiefest" of Saviours.

11. head . . . gold--the Godhead of Jesus Christ, as distinguished from His heel, that is, His manhood, which was "bruised" by Satan; both together being one Christ ( 1 Corinthians 11:3 ). Also His sovereignty, as Nebuchadnezzar, the supreme king was "the head of gold" ( Daniel 2:32-38 Colossians 1:18 ), the highest creature, compared with Him, is brass, iron, and clay. "Preciousness" (Greek, 1 Peter 2:7 ).
bushy--curled, token of Headship. In contrast with her flowing locks ( Solomon 4:1 ), the token of her subjection to Him ( Psalms 8:4-8 , 1 Corinthians 11:3 1 Corinthians 11:6-15 ). The Hebrew is (pendulous as) the branches of a palm, which, when in leaf, resemble waving plumes of feathers.
black--implying youth; no "gray hairs" ( Psalms 102:27 , Psalms 110:3 Psalms 110:4 , Hosea 7:9 ). Jesus Christ was crucified in the prime of vigor and manliness. In heaven, on the other hand, His hair is "white," He being the Ancient of days ( Daniel 7:9 ). These contrasts often concur in Him ( Solomon 5:10 ), "white and ruddy"; here the "raven" ( Solomon 5:12 ), the "dove," as both with Noah in the ark ( Genesis 8:11 ); emblems of judgment and mercy.

12. as the eyes of doves--rather, "as doves" ( Psalms 68:13 ); bathing in "the rivers"; so combining in their "silver" feathers the whiteness of milk with the sparkling brightness of the water trickling over them ( Matthew 3:16 ). The "milk" may allude to the white around the pupil of the eye. The "waters" refer to the eye as the fountain of tears of sympathy ( Ezekiel 16:5 Ezekiel 16:6 , Luke 19:41 ). Vivacity, purity, and love, are the three features typified.
fitly set--as a gem in a ring; as the precious stones in the high priest's breastplate. Rather, translate as Vulgate (the doves), sitting at the fulness of the stream; by the full stream; or, as MAURER (the eyes) "set in fulness, not sunk in their sockets ( Revelation 5:6 ), ("seven," expressing full perfection), ( Zechariah 3:9 , 4:10 ).

13. cheeks--the seat of beauty, according to the Hebrew meaning [GESENIUS]. Yet men smote and spat on them ( Isaiah 50:6 ).
bed--full, like the raised surface of the garden bed; fragrant with ointments, as beds with aromatic plants (literally, "balsam").
sweet flowers--rather, "terraces of aromatic herbs"--"high-raised parterres of sweet plants," in parallelism to "bed," which comes from a Hebrew root, meaning "elevation."
lips--( Psalms 45:2 , John 7:46 ).
lilies--red lilies. Soft and gentle ( 1 Peter 2:22 1 Peter 2:23 ). How different lips were man's ( Psalms 22:7 )!
dropping . . . myrrh--namely, His lips, just as the sweet dewdrops which hang in the calyx of the lily.

14. rings set with . . . beryl--Hebrew, Tarshish, so called from the city. The ancient chrysolite, gold in color (Septuagint), our topaz, one of the stones on the high priest's breastplate, also in the foundation of New Jerusalem ( Revelation 21:19 Revelation 21:20 ; also Daniel 10:6 ). "Are as," is plainly to be supplied, see in Solomon 5:13 a similiar ellipsis; not as MOODY STUART: "have gold rings." The hands bent in are compared to beautiful rings, in which beryl is set, as the nails are in the fingers. BURROWES explains the rings as cylinders used as signets, such as are found in Nineveh, and which resemble fingers. A ring is the token of sonship ( Luke 15:22 ). A slave was not allowed to wear a gold ring. He imparts His sonship and freedom to us ( Galatians 4:7 ); also of authority ( Genesis 41:42 ; compare John 6:27 ). He seals us in the name of God with His signet ( Revelation 7:2-4 ), compare below, Solomon 8:6 , where she desires to be herself a signet-ring on His arms; so "graven on the palms," &c., that is, on the signet-ring in His hand ( Isaiah 49:16 ; contrast Haggai 2:23 , with Jeremiah 22:24 ).
belly--BURROWES and MOODY STUART translate, "body." NEWTON, as it is elsewhere, "bowels"; namely, His compassion ( Psalms 22:14 , Isaiah 63:15 , Jeremiah 31:20 , Hosea 11:8 ).
bright--literally, "elaborately wrought so as to shine," so His "prepared" body ( Hebrews 10:5 ); the "ivory palace" of the king ( Psalms 45:8 ); spotless, pure, so the bride's "neck is as to tower of ivory" ( Solomon 7:4 ).
sapphires--spangling in the girdle around Him ( Daniel 10:5 ). "To the pure all things are pure." As in statuary to the artist the partly undraped figure is suggestive only of beauty, free from indelicacy, so to the saint the personal excellencies of Jesus Christ, typified under the ideal of the noblest human form. As, however, the bride and bridegroom are in public, the usual robes on the person, richly ornamented, are presupposed ( Isaiah 11:5 ). Sapphires indicate His heavenly nature (so John 3:13 , "is in heaven"), even in His humiliation, overlaying or cast "over" His ivory human body ( Exodus 24:10 ). Sky-blue in color, the height and depth of the love of Jesus Christ ( Ephesians 3:18 ).

15. pillars--strength and steadfastness. Contrast man's "legs" ( Ecclesiastes 12:3 ). Allusion to the temple ( 1 Kings 5:8 1 Kings 5:9 , 7:21 ), the "cedars" of "Lebanon" ( Psalms 147:10 ). Jesus Christ's "legs" were not broken on the cross, though the thieves' were; on them rests the weight of our salvation ( Psalms 75:3 ).
sockets of fine gold--His sandals, answering to the bases of the pillars; "set up from everlasting" ( Proverbs 8:22 Proverbs 8:23 ) to the feet, "of fine gold." He was tried in the fire and found without alloy.
countenance--rather, "His aspect," including both mien and stature (compare 2 Samuel 23:21 , Margin; with 1 Chronicles 11:23 ). From the several parts, she proceeds to the general effect of the whole person of Jesus Christ.
Lebanon--so called from its white limestone rocks.
excellent--literally, "choice," that is, fair and tall as the cedars on Lebanon ( Ezekiel 31:3 , &c.). Majesty is the prominent thought ( Psalms 21:5 ). Also the cedars' duration ( Hebrews 1:11 ); greenness ( Luke 23:31 ), and refuge afforded by it ( Ezekiel 17:22 Ezekiel 17:23 ).

16. Literally, "His palate is sweetness, yea, all over loveliness," that is, He is the essence of these qualities.
mouth--so Solomon 1:2 , not the same as "lips" ( Solomon 5:13 ), His breath ( Isaiah 11:4 , John 20:22 ). "All over," all the beauties scattered among creatures are transcendently concentrated in Him ( Colossians 1:19 , 2:9 ).
my beloved--for I love Him.
my friend--for He loves me ( Proverbs 18:24 ). Holy boasting ( Psalms 34:2 , 1 Corinthians 1:31 ).